Related Articles

"These are the same unions that have been trading away their members' penalty rates for years, but nonetheless they took it to the Federal Court and the decision of Fair Work Australia was upheld," Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney.

"So that is the independent umpire doing its work and its work being confirmed by the court."

United Voice and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, who brought the case forward, both vowed to continue their campaigns.

United Voice's national secretary Jo-anne Schofield said the verdict of the court was a blow to workers.

"What it shows quite clearly is that our system is out of whack," she told reporters in Melbourne.

"When the people who need protection from our system the most are let down in this way, it is a clear sign that our laws need to change."

The union is working through the lengthy decision and could not yet say whether it would look at avenues for appeal.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged unions to accept the umpire's decision.

"Now that the Federal Court has made its decision, employers should be able to get on with implementing these changes, and start offering longer opening hours and more shifts on Sundays," chief executive James Pearson said.

The chamber estimates the commission's decision will affect about 220,000 workers in retail, pharmacy, hospitality and fast food.

"We are talking about limited changes - for example, from double-time to time-and-three-quarters for Sunday work," Mr Pearson said.